Omaha Hi-Lo: Basic Summary
December 8th, 2015 at 20:21
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha hi/lo starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem difficult at first, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.